Pocket closing device



Sept. 16, 1947. r DlCKEY I 2,427,553

POCKET CLOSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EDWIN L. DIOKEY Sept. 16, 1947.

E. DICKEY POCKET CLOSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1946 FIG. 9

FIG.- 12

FIG 15 Patented Sept. 16, 1947 UNlTED STATES FATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for use in connection with a flexible pocket, for retaining the same sufficiently closed to prevent the improper or accidental removal of articles from such pocket.

An important object of the invention is to provide yielding means for retaining taut the pocket adjacent to its opening, so that article-s cannot be accidentally displaced from the pocket, but permitting the proper insertion and removal of articles into and from the pocket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient spreading device, which is inserted into the pocket, and engages with the pocket adjacent to its opening, to hold taut that portion of the pocket adjacent to the pocket opening, while being spaced from the major portion of the pocket, whereby such major portion may retain its normal flexibility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient spreading device of the above-mentioned character, having parts to be inserted Within and held by sockets or recesses formed in the pocket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient spreading device of the above-mentioned character, having parts to frictionally engage with the pocket parts, to securely retain the device in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient spreading device having loops or eyes for receiving attaching elements or pins, serving to retain the device in place when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient spreading device, which is extremely simple in construction, and cheap to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character adapted for use with the conventional pocket, with or without, slight changes in the pocket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part oi this application, and in which like numeral-s are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a pocket and spreading device arranged therein,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spreading device when closed,

Figure 6 is a similar view of the spreading device when open,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a rule pocket and spreading device arranged therein,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on line 88 of Figure 7,

Figure 8' is a transverse section taken on line 38 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a pocket and spreading device embodying a modification of the invention,

Figure 10 is a perspective View of the spreading l6 device removed,

Figure 11 is an enlarged side elevation of one end of the spreading device, the adjacent portion of the pocket being shown in section, and parts broken away,

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken on line lZ-lz of Figure 1,

Figure 13 is a side elevation of a pocket and spreading device embodying a further form of the invention,

Figure 14 i a horizontal section taken on line I i-44 of Figure 13, and,

Figure 15 is a vertical section taken on line l5 i5 of Figure 13.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of my invention, attention being called first to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the numeral I0 designates a section of fabric, which may constitute a portion of a shirt or other article of apparel. Arranged upon the outer face of the fabric section II], is a pocket side H, formed of suitable fabric. The fabric section l0 constitutes the inner pocket side and the element I I the outer pocket side, and these parts are secured together by a line or lines of stitching l2, which are U-shaped. The upper end of the pocket side I I is preferably turned over, and stitched upon itself, at l3, providing a free edge at the pocket opening. It is thus seen that an upstanding pocket is provided having an opening or passage l4 at its top.

The pocket sides l0 and II are secured together by U-shaped lines of stitching I5, adjacent to the vertical portions or sides of the lines of stitching l2, and the lines of stitching l5 include vertical sides l6 and horizontal tops and bottoms l1 and i8, forming internal sockets, recesses,-or notches, adjacent to the vertical edges of the pocket, adjacent to the opening 14, and leading into'the pocket.

The numeral 19 designates a resilient spreading device as a whole, formed of resilient wire or the like, and including a U-shaped body portion 20, having sides 2|, and a bottom 29'. The sides 2| are bent at their free ends to provide horizontal shoulders 22. The wire is continued beyond the shoulders to form long heads 23, the upper ends of which are bent inwardly, and formed into eyes 24. The heads 23 are ofiset laterally outwardly with respect to the sides 2I of the body portion 20.

The operation of the first form of the invention is as follows: The resilient expanding device I9 is inserted within the pocket, between the pocket sides I and II, and the heads 23 engage within the sockets or recesses formed by the stitching I5. The heads 23 engage the vertical portions I6 of the stitching, while the shoulders 22 and the eyes 24 engage the horizontal portions I8 and I 1, respectively. It is thus seen that the heads 23 engaging within the sockets or recesses retain the spreading device in place, within the pocket. The spreading device I9 is tensioned so that its sides 2| tend to spread, and this causes the heads 23 to exert a spreading action upon the vertical edges of the pocket, whereby the upper portion of the pocket, or a zone, having a width corresponding to the length of the heads 23, is pulled and held under tension. The pocket sides I 9 and I I at this zone are therefore held in substantial contact with each other, and the pocket opening I4 is therefore closed, so that the articles held within the pocket cannot drop therefrom when the pocket is inverted, which would occur if the pocket is formed upon a shirt and the wearer stoops over. Attention is called to the fact that the sides 2| are spaced from the vertical edges of the pocket and the bottom 20' is spaced from the bottom edge of the pocket, for a substantial distance. This leaves the lower major portion of the pocket free at its edges, with respect to the spreading device I9, whereby such lower major portion retains its normal flexibility for receiving the articles to be inserted within the pocket. The pull which the spreading device I9 applies to the upper portion of the pocket sides is of course yielding or resilient, and will normally retain the pocket sides at the heads 23 in substantial contact, but the device I9 will yield inwardly to permit of insertion of the article or articles into the pocket. The device will also yield to permit of the convenient removal of the article. When the spreading device I9 is in the expanded position, the pocket sides I 0 and II, at the heads 23, are retained substantially contacting, thereby closing the opening of the pocket so that the article or articles cannot accidentally fall from the pocket when the pocket is inverted.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a modification of the invention. In these figures the numeral 25 is a section of fabric which may form a part of a pair of overalls, and also a pocket side. A long companion pocket side 26 is arranged upon the outer face of the pocket side 25, and these sides are stitched together by a line of stitching 21, which follows the marginal edges of the pocket side 26. The line of stitching 21 includes vertical portions 28 and a horizontal portion 29. The pocket sides 25 and 25 are further stitched together by U-shaped lines of stitching 39, corresponding to the U-shaped lines of stitching I5, and serving the same purpose of forming the sockets or recesses. The same resilient spreading device I9 is employed, and is arranged within the pocket, between the pocket sides, and the heads 23 are held within the sockets or recesses formed by the stitching 39. These heads have a spreading action and therefore retain the top portions of the pocket sides 25 and 26 taut, forming a zone having a width corresponding to the length of the heads 23. The sides 2I are spaced from the vertical edges of the pocket, while the bottom 20' may be arranged near the longitudinal center of the pocket. A folding rule, 3|, is passed through the opening at the top of the pocket, the spreading device I9 yielding inwardly for this purpose. When the top of the rule passes below the heads 23, and the taut zone of the pocket sides, the device I9 again expands, and the pocket sides 25 and 26, adjacent to the heads 23 substantially contact, for closing the top of the pocket, so that the rule cannot accidentally fall from the pocket, when the pocket is inverted. The rule 3| is disposed upon one side of the body portion 20. The device I9 will yield, to permit of the proper removal of the rule.

In Figure 9, a pocket is shown including a pocket side 3! and a pocket side 32, formed of fabric and stitched together by a line of stitching 33, forming a pocket open at its top only. Arranged within this pocket is a U-shaped resilient spreading device 34, which is identical with the spreading device I9, except that the heads 23 are provided with pointed teeth or serrations 35, formed integral therewith, and facing outwardly. These pointed teeth engage with the vertical edges of the pocket at the line of stitching 33, and securely hold the spreading device 34 against displacement. When these teeth or serrations are used, the socket forming stitching I5 is omitted.

In Figures 13 to 15, I have shown a pocket construction which may be identical with the pocket construction shown in Figure 9, includin pocket sides 3| and 32. The same expanding device i9 shown in Figure 2, is used. In all forms of the invention, the heads 23 have the eyes 24 at their upper ends. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 13 to 15, the socket forming stitching I5 is omitted, as in Figure 9, and the device I9 is held in place by inserting pins 35', which are pointed, through the pocket sides 32 and SI and through the eyes 24. The pins 35 may be screw threaded for receiving nuts 36. Any other suitable means may be employed to hold the pins in place when inserted through the eyes 24 and associated pocket sides. The spreading device operates to hold the pocket sides 3! and 32, at the heads 23, in substantial contacting relation, thus closing the pocket opening at the top so that articles cannot improperly fall from the pocket, when it is inverted.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that the various changes, in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A generall U-shaped resilient spreading device to be arranged within a pocket having an opening, said spreadin device including opposed sides having long heads which are offset laterally outwardly from the sides and disposed substantially in the plane of the sides, said generally U-shaped spreading device having its open end arranged adjacent to the opening of the 5 pocket, the laterally offset heads being arranged within the pocket and engaging opposed portions of the pocket to spread such portions, the sides being spaced inwardly from the edges of the pocket so that the major portion of the pocket retains its flexibility.

2. A flexible pocket having an opening and provided with interior sockets near the opening, a substantially U-shaped resilient spreading device including opposed sides and laterally outwardly offset heads carried by the sides near their ends and inserted Within the interior sockets, the opposed sides being spaced from the marginal edges of the pocket for retaining the adjacent portion of the pocket flexible.

3. A pocket including pocket sides stitched together at the marginal edge of the pocket, the pocket having an open end, stitching connecting the pocket sides and forming sockets arranged within the area of the pocket and leading into the pocket, and a resilient spreading device inserted Within the pocket and includin a U-shaped portion and heads carried by the sides of the U- shaped portion near the open end of the U- shaped portion, the heads being ofiset laterally outwardly with respect to the sides and held Within the sockets, the heads holding the U- 6 shaped portion spaced from the marginal edge of the pocket.

4. A pocket having a pocket cavit and one end of the cavity being open, a resilient substantially U-shaped spreading device arranged within the pocket cavity and including opposed sides, said sides being provided near their free ends with laterally outwardly ofiset heads having eyes, the heads being arranged within the pocket cavity and engaging the marginal edge of the pocket and retaining the U-shaped spreading device spaced from the marginal edge of the pocket, and pins passing through parts of the pocket and the eyes to attain the spreading device in position,

EDWIN L. DICKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

